Infant{40 s bed

ABSTRACT

An infant&#39;&#39;s bed which includes a bottom section having a headboard, a footboard, and sideboards extending between and interconnecting the headboard and footboard. Resting on the bottom section and movably supported thereon is a top section which includes a horizontal rectangular frame having a first side fence pivotally secured to the rectangular frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position, and a second side fence pivotally secured to the rectangular frame on the opposite side of the frame from the first side fence for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position immediately subjacent the first side fence when the first side fence is pivoted to a horizontal position. The top section further has a footboard pivotally secured to the frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis which extends generally perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the first side fence. A headboard is pivotally secured to the frame of the top section for pivotation about a horizontal axis extending substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the footboard of the top section, and the footboard and headboard can be pivoted into horizontally extending, coplanar alignment immediately superjacent the first side fence. The top section is rollably supported on the bottom section for horizontal reciprocating movement, and a motor and pitman arm connection are provided for interconnecting the top section and the bottom section for driving the top section in reciprocation on the bottom section.

United States Patent Leahey [15] 3,656,195 [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [54] INFANTS BED Joseph R. Leahey, Route 1, PO. Box 113, McLoud, Okla. 73099 22 Filed: Nov. 25, 1969 21 Appl.No.: 879,678

[72] Inventor:

3,261,033 7/1966 Martin ..5/109 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Dunlap, Laney, Hessin & Dougherty [5 7] ABSTRACT An infants bed which includes a bottom section having a headboard, a footboard, and sideboards extending between and interconnecting the headboard and! footboard. Resting on the bottom section and movably supported thereon is a top section which includes a horizontal rectangular frame having a first side fence pivotally secured to the: rectangular frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position, and a second side fence pivotally' secured to the rectangular frame on the opposite side of the frame from the first side fence for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position immediately subjacent the first side fence when the first side fence is pivoted to a horizontal position. The top section further has a footboard pivotally secured to'the frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis which extends generally perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the first side fence. A headboard is pivotally secured to the frame of the top section for pivotation about a horizontal axis extending substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the footboard of the top section, and the footboard and headboard can be pivoted into horizontally extending, coplanar alignment immediately superjacent the first side fence. The top section is rollably supported on the bottom section for horizontal reciprocating movement, and a motor and pitman arm connection are provided for interconnecting the top section and the bottom section for driving the top section in reciprocation on the bottom section.

1 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures INFANTS BED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to baby beds, and more particularly, to baby beds of the type in which the mattress supporting portion of the bed is caused to undergo a reciprocating movement for the purpose of lulling the baby to sleep.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In Finger U. S. Pat. No. 2,961,666, there is disclosed a cradle attachment which can be utilized to rock the springs and mattress of a cradle by the use of an electrical motor supported on a base portion of the cradle and connected by an articulated connecting rod to the mattress supporting portion of the cradle. The mattress supporting portion includes a framework which is rollably supported at its opposite ends on the base portion of the cradle so as to be reciprocable by the motor and connecting arm when the motor is energized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention comprises an improvement over the Finger cradle attachment and is particularly useful as applied to relatively larger baby beds in that the bed can be collapsed into two compact parts which are separable or detachable from each other, and further in that the electric motor can be automatically energized for a preselected time period from a remote location. The parents of the child can thus cause the reciprocated portion of the baby or infants bed to be reciprocated for a desired period of time in order to lull the infant back to sleep should the infant awaken in the middle of the night. This has the desirable advantage of obviating the necessity for one of the parents to arise and go to the baby to walk the baby until it has fallen asleep.

Broadly described, the present invention is an improved infants bed which comprises a bottom section which has a headboard and a footboard which are interconnected by a pair of opposed, substantially parallel sideboards which, with the head and footboards, form a substantially rectangular structure. The infants bed further includes a top section which has a horizontally extending rectangular frame carrying a first and a second side fence which are pivotally attached to the frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis. These side fences are extended vertically when the bed is in use, but can be folded down to a horizontally extending, superimposed position when the bed is not in use. Preferably, one of the side fences includes an upper portion and a lower portion which are pivotally interconnected for pivotation about a horizontal pivotal axis extending parallel to the pivotal axes by which the side fences are connected to the rectangular frame. The upper or top section of the bed further includes a headboard and a footboard which are each pivotally connected to the frame at horizontally extending, substantially parallel pivotal axes which extend substantially perpendicular to the pivotal axis of one of the side fences. When the bed is to be shipped or stored, the head and footboards of the top section can be folded into a position of substantially coplanar alignment in which both the headboard and the footboard extend horizontally and are immediately superadjacent the folded down side fences.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the infants bed further includes a timing device connected to the motor and adapted to permit remote control of the motor so that the motor will be energized for a predetermined period of time, and the top section of the bed will be rollably reciprocated on the bottom section of the bed during this time so that an infant may be lulled back to sleep when it awakens during the night.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be perceived that it is an object of the present invention to provide a simply and inexpensively constructed infants bed which is mechanically sturdy and characterized in having a long and trouble-free operating life.

Another object of the invention is to provide an infants bed which can be electrically actuated so that the top portion of the bed is gently reciprocated to provide a lulling movement to induce the infant using the bed to sleep.

A further object of the invention is to provide an infants bed which is of basically two-part construction with the parts being foldable into a compact status for shipment or storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an infants bed which provides electrical means for reciprocating in a gentle reciprocating movement, the mattress supporting portion of the bed and which includes timing means permitting such reciprocating motion to be carried on for a predetermined period of time and then automatically stopped.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the infants bed of the invention illustrating one of the side fences forming a portion of the bed partially folded downwardly.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the bed showing a top section of the bed as it appears when it has been reciprocated to one side, and is in offset relation to the bottom section of the bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIG. I, the infants bed of the invention includes a bottom section 10 and a top section 12 which is rollably supported on the bottom section. The top section can be detached from the bottom section simply by lifting it upwardly unless flexible straps or retainer elements are used for safety purposes to limit the extent to which the top section can be reciprocated on the bottom section.

The top section of the bed includes a horizontally extending rectangular frame 14 which has a pair of side frame members 16 and a pair of end frame members 18. Supported within the frame 14 is a set of springs 20 which set has a pair of angle iron side members 22 interconnected by angle iron end members 24, and springs 25 connected between these angle iron side members and the angle iron end members. Pivotally secured to the top edge of the side frame members 16 is a side fence designated generally by reference numeral 26. Any suitable type of hinge 27 may be used to pivotally connect the side fence 26 to the side frame member 16 for pivotation about a horizontal axis. The side fence 26 includes an upper portion 28 and a lower portion 30 which are connected to each other at adjacent edges by a suitable hinge 32 for pivotation about a horizontal axis which extends substantially parallel to the horizontal axis by which the side fence 26 is connected to the side frame member 16. It will thus be seen that the side fence 26 may be folded in the manner depicted in FIG. 1, and the pivoting movements about the pivotal axis connecting the side fence 26 to the side frame member 16 and the pivotal axis interconnecting the upper and lower portions 28 and 30 to each other continued until the top portion is flatly superimposed on the lower portion, and both portions extend substantially horizontally. Moreover, it will be noticed that when the side fence 26 is folded down in the manner described, the upper portion and the lower portion thereof lie within the end frame members 18, and at a lower level than the top edges of the end frame members.

Another side fence 40 is pivotally secured to the second frame member 16 on the opposite side of the top section 12 from the side fence 26. The side fence 40 is not articulated that is, it is not pivotally segmented into an upper and lower portion, but the lower edge of the side fence 40 is pivotally connected by a hinge to the side frame member 16 so that the side fence 40 can be pivoted form its upstanding position as shown in FIG. 1 to a horizontally extending position in which it overlies, and is immediately superjacent, the folded down side fence 26 when this latter fence is folded.

Secured to the end frame member 18 at one end of the bed is a headboard 42. The headboard 42 is secured to the end frame member 18 by a suitable hinge 43 for pivotation about a horizontal axis so that the headboard can be pivoted downwardly to a horizontally extending position in which it is immediately superjacent the folded side fences 26 and 40. At the opposite end of the bed from the headboard 42, a footboard 44 is pivotally secured by a hinge 45 along its lower edge to the second end frame member 18 so that the footboard 42 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis and moved to a horizontally extending position. When the headboard 42 and footboard 44 are pivoted downwardly to horizontally extending positions, they are in substantially coplanar alignment and lie on top of the side fence 40. Thus, when the side fences 26 and 40 and the headboard 42 and footboard 44 of the top section 12 of the bed are folded downwardly in the manner described, a compact structure is provided which can be easily stored in a relatively small place and packaged for shipment in a relatively small container. The folded down relation of the side fences and the headand the footboard are perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and showing sections through the bed at such time as the several elements described have been folded to their horizontally extending positions.

As a final element of the top section 12, a transverse frame member 46 is provided which extends beneath the springs 25 between the side frame members 16 of the top section 12 at about the central portion of the bed. The transverse frame member 46 has secured to one edge thereof, a downwardly extending bracket 48.

The bottom section of the infants bed includes a pair of horizontally extending sideboards 50 which extend into leg posts 52 disposed at opposite ends of the bed. The leg posts 52 are preferably detachable from the sideboards 50. A pair of the leg posts 52 at one end of the bed support a headboard 54, and the leg posts at the other end of the bed support a footboard 56. Positioned inwardly from the headboard along the two sideboards 50 are a pair of supporting blocks 58 which support an angle iron member 60 which has rotatably mounted on one flange thereof, a pair of horizontally spaced rollers 62. At the opposite end of the bed near the footboard 56, a pair of supporting blocks 64 are secured to the sideboards 50 and support a transversely extending angle iron 66. Rotatably mounted in one flange ofthe angle iron 66 are a pair of horizontally spaced rollers 68. The rollers 62 and 68 disposed at opposite ends of the bottom section 10 of the bed are positioned so that when the top section 12 is rested upon the bottom section as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the horizontally extending flanges of the angle irons forming the opposite end members 24 of the set of springs 20 contact the upper surfaces of these rollers, and form the rolling surface permitting the top section 12 to be horizontally rolled relative to the bottom section 10.

Extending transversely across the bottom section 10 and interconnecting the sideboards 50 intermediate their length is a motor supporting transverse member 70 which supports an electric motor 74. It may be secured to suitable supporting blocks 72 disposed at opposite ends thereof, which blocks are secured to the sideboards 50. The electric motor 74 is supplied with electrical power by a suitable electrical lead 76 which extends to a timing device 78 which may be conveniently mounted in the sideboard 50. The timing device is, of course, interposed in the electrical circuit to the motor 74 as will be hereinafter explained. An output shaft from the motor 74 is secured to the center of a rotating drive plate 80 which has eccentrically connected thereto by a suitable pin 82 located adjacent its periphery, a pitman arm 84. The end of the pitman arm 84 opposite its end connected to the drive plate is connected to the bracket 48 by means of a suitable connecting pin 86 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

The electrical circuitry employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 where a suitable source of alternating electrical current is schematically illustrated and is designated by reference numeral 90. The motor 92 is connected to one side of the circuit and the timer device 78 is connected in the other side of the circuit between the motor 74 and the source of power 90. A suitable ON-OFF switch 92 is provided in the circuit.

USE AND OPERATION In utilizing the infants bed of the invention, the bed is set up somewhat in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, except that the side fence 26 is extended to its vertically extending, operative position. In this position, the top section 28 and the bottom section 30 of the side fence 26 are aligned in a vertical plane, and are held in this position by a suitable slip lock or other latching means for securing the topmost structural member of this side fence to points adjacent the top edges of the headboard 42 and the footboard 44. The infant, of course, lies upon a mattress supported upon the spring section 20.

The motor 74 is then energized and, when as in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical structure includes the timing device 78, this timing device is set to allow the motor to run for a predetermined period of time, and then to be shut off automatically by opening of the circuit. As the motor 74 is energized, the drive plate 80 is driven in rotation and the pitman arm 84 converts the rotational movement of the motor to translational movement by its connection to the bracket 48. Thus, as the motor is energized, the top section 12 of the bed is caused to undergo a reciprocating movement. As the top section 12 reciprocates relative to the bottom section 10 of the bed, the top section is rollably supported on the rollers 62 and 68 which contact the horizontally extending flange of the end members 24 of the set of springs 20. The action of the pitman arm 84 is such that there is a deceleration in the rate of lateral movement of the top section 12 near each end of the stroke of the pitman arm 84 so that there is not ajerking turnabout at the end of the stroke. Thus, the laterally reciprocating motion is gentle and there is a substantial inducement for the infant to sleep.

It should be pointed out that one of the advantageous aspects of the inclusion of the timing device 78 in the electrical circuitry to the motor 74 is that this device may be employed at such time as the infant may awake late in the night for automatically causing the bed to gently rock the baby for a predetermined period of time. The parents may return to their own beds after setting the device with a substantial degree of assurance that, unless the child is bothered by gas or needs feeding, the rocking motion of the bed will soon lull the child to sleep. Thus, it is not necessary for the parents to remain at the baby bed patting the baby, or perhaps picking up the baby and walking him for extended periods of time. It is also possible to locate the timing device 78 at a remote location so that the parent can automatically start the motor 74 and have it continue to operate the bed for a predetermined period of time without the necessity for the parent to get up and go to the side of the infants bed in order to set the timing device.

One of the important aspects of the present invention is its simplicity of construction and the manner in which it can be folded into a compact configuration for storage, packaging or shipment. At such time as it may be desired to store the bed or to ship it, the side fence 26 is folded downwardly about the hinge which connects the bottom portion to the side frame member 16 of the frame 14, so that the top portion 28 and lower portion 30 extend in horizontal coplanar alignment. The side fence 40 is next folded downwardly to a horizontal position by pivoting it about its horizontal pivotal axis which extends along the hinge line between this side fence and the side frame member 16 to which it is connected. When the side fence 40 is folded to a horizontally extending position, it lies atop the coplanar upper and lower portions, 28 and 30, respectively, of the side fence 26. Finally, the headboard 42 and the footboard 44 are folded downwardly about their hinged connections to the end frame members 18 until they are in horizontally extending, coplanar alignment and lie on top of the side fence 40. There is thus provided a very compact structure, insofar as the top section of the bed is concerned. This structure can be placed in a relatively small box and shipped, or the folded top section can be stored in a small space. It is a simple matter to remove the top section 12 from the bottom section by simply lifting the top section upwardly, since it merely rests upon the rollers 62 and 68 unless certain straps are provided to limit the reciprocating movement of the top section as a safety feature.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom section 10 of the bed is of relatively low profile, and by making the headboard 54 and footboard 56 detachable from the sideboards 50, which can be easily accomplished, and which is a preferred construction of the present invention, the headboard and footboard can then be lain inside the two sideboards 50 and between the ends of these sideboards to provide a compact structure commensurate with the compactness of the folded top section 12.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be perceived that the present invention provides a relatively simply constructed, mechanically sturdy and versatile infants bed which is highly useful in automatically lulling an infant to sleep by a rocking or gentle reciprocating motion. The bed may be folded into a compact configuration for storage or shipment. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein described in order to simply exemplify one construction which may utilize the inventive principles, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications in the illustrated structure can be effected without departure from these basic principles. All such innovations and modifications as may be made in the infants bed of the invention without departure from these basic principles are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention except as the same may be necessarily limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is: 1. An infants bed comprising: a bottom section including:

a headboard; a footboard; a first pair of rollers mounted on said headboard; a second pair of rollers mounted on said footboard; and side boards extending between and interconnecting the headboard and footboard; a collapsible top section detachably and reciprocably mounted on said bottom section for reciprocating transverse movement in a horizontal direction parallel to the planes of said headboard and footboard. said top section including:

a horizontal, rectangular frame;

a set of mattress supporting springs retained in said frame;

a pair of roller receiving tracks mounted on said horizontal frame at opposite ends thereof and receiving said first and second pair of rollers;

a first side fence pivotally secured to said rectangular frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position;

a second side fence pivotally secured to said rectangular frame on the opposite side thereof from said first side fence for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an up standing position to a horizontal position immediately subjacent said first side fence when the first side fence is pivoted to a horizontal position, said second side fence having a lower portion which is pivotally connected to said rectangular frame, and an upper portion pivotally connected to said lower portion for ivotation about an axis extending substantially para el to the pivotal axis of the lower portion on said rectangular frame;

a footboard pivotally secured to said frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the pivotal axes of said fences, and disposed at a higher horizontal level than the pivotal axes of said first and second side fences; and

a headboard pivotally secured to said frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis extending substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the footboard of said top section, and being located at a higher horizontal level than the pivotal axes of said first and second side fences, said footboard and headboard of said top section being pivotable into co-planar horizontal alignment in a plane which overlies, and is above, the planes occupied by said first and second side fences when said first and second side fences are pivoted to a substantially horizontally extending position;

a motor mounted on said bottom section midway between the headboard and footboard of said bottom section;

a disc drivingly connected to said motor;

a pitman arm having one end connected eccentrically on said disc, and having a second end connected to said top section midway between said headboard and footboard of said top section;

safety strap means retaining said top section on said bottom section; and

timing means connected to said motor for automatically starting said motor at a preselected time. 

1. An infant''s bed comprising: a bottom section including: a headboard; a footboard; a first pair of rollers mounted on said headboard; a second pair of rollers mounted on said footboard; and side boards extending between and interconnecting the headboard and footboard; a collapsible top section detachably and reciprocably mounted on said bottom section for reciprocating transverse movement in a horizontal direction parallel to the planes of said headboard and footboard, said top section including: a horizontal, rectangular frame; a set of mattress supporting springs retained in said frame; a pair of roller receiving tracks mounted on said horizontal frame at opposite ends thereof and receiving said first and second pair of rollers; a first side fence pivotally secured to said rectangular frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position; a second side fence pivotally secured to said rectangular frame on the opposite side thereof from said first side fence for pivotation about a horizontal axis from an upstanding position to a horizontal position immediately subjacent said first side fence when the first side fence is pivoted to a horizontal position, said second side fence having a lower portion which is pivotally connected to said rectangular frame, and an upper portion pivotally connected to said lower portion for pivotation about an axis extending substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the lower portion on said rectangular frame; a footboard pivotally secured to said frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the pivotal axes of said fences, and disposed at a higher horizontal level than the pivotal axes of said first and second side fences; and a headboard pivotally secured to said frame for pivotation about a horizontal axis extending substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the footboard of said top section, and being located at a higher horizontal level than the pivotal axes of said first and second side fences, said footboard and headboard of said top section being pivotable into co-planar horizontal alignment in a plane which overlies, and is above, the planes occupied by said first and second side fences when said first and second side fences are pivoted to a substantially horizontally extending position; a motor mounted on said bottom section midway between the headboard and footboard of said bottom section; a disc drivingly connected to said motor; a pitman arm having one end connected eccentrically on said disc, and having a second end connected to said top section midway between said headboard and footboard of said top section; safety strap means retaining said top section on said boTtom section; and timing means connected to said motor for automatically starting said motor at a preselected time. 